RSS Feed

The Houma Region Division 2 All-District boys and girls bowling teams were announced Wednesday evening at Charlie’s Lanes in Morgan City.
The All-District girls team was headlined by Most Valuable Player Juliet Thibodeaux of Morgan City, who finished the season with a 183 average.
Other area bowlers making the girls’ first team were MacKenzie Amador (173 average) and Kameron Patureau (151), both of Morgan City High School; and Emily Price (160), Ashley Daigle (150) and Jolie Boudreaux (147), all of Central Catholic.
On the girls second team, Bewick’s Jaci Lynch made the squad with a 141 average. Other second-team selections were Sara Thibodaux (137), Julianna Hernandez (135) and Marina Duval (133), all of Central Catholic.
On the boys side Berwick’s Kyle Valdez made the first team with the highest average among Tri-City area bowlers with a 182. Other first-team selections from the local area were Devin Mayon (179) and Devin Hidalgo (166), both of Morgan City High School
Houma Christian’s Jace Adams was the boys’ Most Valuable Player with a 187 average.
Tri-City area representatives on the second team were Cameron Kelly (165), Scott Price (165) and Isaaiah Williams (165), all of Berwick; and Morgan City’s Ryan Armond (164).
Below are the complete all-district boys and girls teams:
Girls
First Team
—Juliet Thibodeaux, Morgan City, 183 average.
—MacKenzie Amador, Morgan City, 173.
—Emily Price, Central Catholic, 160.
—Kameron Patureau, Morgan City, 151.
—Ashley Daigle, Central Catholic, 150.
—Jolie Boudreaux, Central Catholic, 147.
Girls’ MVP: Juliet Thibodaux, Morgan City
Second Team
—Alexandria Himel, Houma Christian, 142.
—Jaci Lynch, Berwick, 141.
—Sara Thibodaux, Central Catholic, 137.
—Julianna Hernandez, Central Catholic, 135.
—Marina Duval, Central Catholic, 133.
—Gracie Rodrigue, E.D. White, 130.
Boys
First Team
—Jace Adams, Houma Christian, 187.
—Gage Gaddis, E.D. White, 184.
—Kyle Valdez, Berwick, 182.
—Devin Mayon, Morgan City, 179.
—Thomas Amador, Houma Christian, 177.
—Devin Hidalgo, Morgan City, 166.
Boys MVP: Jace Adams, Houma Christian.
Second Team
—Cameron Kelly, Berwick, 165.
—Scott Price, Berwick, 165.
—Isaaiah Williams, Berwick, 165.
—Ryan Armond, Morgan City, 164.
—Gage Martin, Houma Christian, 164.
—Bennett DiSalvo, Houma Christian, 163.

Competition is where you find it, and for the past several months, Tri-City area high school students have found it on the water.
No, not swimming, diving or playing water polo. These kids compete in the Louisiana High School B.A.S.S. Trail, where the competition and challenge can be as tough as any sport and perhaps in some ways more difficult.
The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society program began five years ago with Patterson High School being the first school locally to field a team to participate during its second year of competition. Patterson High School fishing coach Hal Pinho says the program continues to grow across Louisiana.
“The first year Patterson was in, there was probably 80 boats entered in a tournament, then there was 100, then 200, and now there’s more than 300 statewide,” Pinho says. “It’s grown so much they had to split it up into east-west divisions, because they had so many kids.”
In 2018 Pinho’s sons Hayden and Hunter qualified for the 2018 B.A.S.S. National High School Championship when they finished seventh out of 252 teams in last year’s state tournament. Older brother Hayden now fishes for the University of Louisiana-Lafayette’s Ragin Cajun Bass Fishing Team.
High school anglers have six tournaments that they can compete in in the east and west regions in trying to qualify for the state tournament. And, though the number of qualifying tournaments doubled in 2018 from the previous year, it’s still not an easy task.
“To qualify for a state championship, you have to finish in the top 10 percent of at least one tournament,” Morgan City High School fishing coach Dean Grizzaffi said. “We average between 150 and 180 boats per tournament, so that means they have to finish in the top 15 or top 18 to qualify.”
Depending on whether it’s being held in the east or west region, tournaments take place in locations like the Atchafalaya Basin, Henderson Lake, Lake Pontchartrain, the Calcasieu River, Henderson Lake, Bayou Segnette and Toledo Bend.
Because of such diversity, tournaments include a Friday practice day for the competitors before the Saturday event.
“The enjoyment is just seeing these kids compete,” Grizzaffi said. “Their day starts out between 4:30 and 5:00 o’clock in the morning. It takes a special kid to sit out in a boat from 6:30 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. weigh-in while battling the weather. No matter if it’s 100 degrees or 30-something, 50-something, battling the rain — these kids don’t have dugouts. They don’t have locker rooms. You’re out on the water, where you might get a 10-minute break. And, these kids will probably cast over 2,000 times a day.”
The sport itself isn’t cheap. Besides the $40 entry fee per team, quite often, depending on the tournament’s location, there are hotels involved as well as boat fuel expense, vehicle fuel, food, drinks and even boat repairs if a mishap occurs — something Grizzaffi says occurred during an event.
Currently, high school tournament fishing isn’t sanctioned by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. To help offset some of the cost, Grizzaffi says the Morgan City High School team sold sponsorships with advertisements on the team’s jerseys.
Central Catholic’s coach Beau Theriot says coaches can captain a boat for the students, give pointers and talk to them, but they can’t tie a knot, tie a bait, cast a line or net a fish. Coaches are only allowed to operate the boat.
“One thing about fishing is, you don’t have to be a certain size, color, weight, girl, boy — it doesn’t matter,” Theriot said. “You can compete on any level with this kind of sport if you want to. The thing I like about it is, it gets these kids outdoors and teaches them responsibility, safety-wise, while operating a boat and making decisions on their own.”
Tournament bass fishing is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation today. One of the goals of B.A.S.S. is to create and develop the next generation of anglers.
Currently, all qualifying tournaments are over for the year. Four teams from Morgan City, one from Patterson, and two teams from Central Catholic qualified for this year’s state tournament, which will be held out of the Berwick Boat Landing May 3 – 4.
Top finishers from the state tournament will get an opportunity to compete against the nation’s best high school anglers on Kentucky Lake this summer.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Flores is The Daily Review’s Outdoor Writer.

Submitted Photo
Local wood-turning artist Mike McAdams has donated a beautiful wooden bowl to be raffled at the Treasure Sale 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 30 at the Berwick Civic Complex In addition to the raffle, shoppers at the event can shop from over 30 vendors of garage sale items, arts and crafts and much more. There is a $2 admission at the door for adults. This event is a fundraiser for the Berwick Heritage Museum. Accepting the donation are Historical Society members Lonnie LaBouve, Shannon McFate and Janie Brashear. 

January 5, 1934-March 18, 2019
Donald F. “Don” Tellman, 85, a native of Eugene, Missouri, and a resident of Morgan City, passed away Monday, March 18, 2019 at Teche Regional Medical Center.
Don was born on January 5, 1934 in Eugene, Missouri, the oldest son and fourth sibling of 11 born to Frank H. Tellman and Cyrilla M. Tellman.
Don retired from the United States Navy in 1977 as a Lieutenant Commander after serving on destroyers, submarines and submarine tenders as the chief engineer. He was a qualified nuclear operating engineer and he taught Marine Propulsion School in Great Lakes, Illinois. Don also taught nuclear power plant and chemistry at the S1C prototype in Windsor, Connecticut.
After his retirement from the Navy, Don spent the next 30 years building and repairing ships and boats. He managed several shipyards in the United States for Lockheed Shipbuilding, where he would oversee the construction and repair of ships and boats for various customers. While employed with Lockheed, he held numerous management and senior management positions including Vice President of Production Operations.
In 1987 Don moved to Morgan City and began working at Swiftships. His reputation was world renowned and in 1992 he was recruited to manage the Williamstown Dockyard in Williamstown, Australia for the construction of 10 3600 Anzac Class Frigates for the Australian and New Zealand Navies. Also in Australia he was the CEO of Darwin Ship Repair and Engineering in Darwin, Australia. He also managed the construction and repair of ships for civilian customers as well as the Royal Australian Navy and Army.
Don was very active in the VFW Post 4222, American Legion Post 96, and the Military Officers Association. In his free time Don loved to fish and hunt and was an accomplished BBQ Chef. Don especially liked to compete in BBQ competitions throughout South Central Louisiana and won numerous awards for his efforts. Don and his wife Mata were very instrumental in the beginning stages of the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce Bayou BBQ Bash. Don was always there to help others and loved sharing his food with people who liked to eat good BBQ.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 63 years, Mata Kaiser Tellman; three sons, Larry Don Tellman of Tampa, Florida, Roy Franklin Tellman of Seattle, Washington, and Douglas Lennard Tellman of Berwick; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Cyrilla M. Tellman; and brothers and sisters, Chuck Tellman, Paul Tellman, Butch Tellman, Jacqueline (Tellman) Newmann, Bonnie (Tellman) Newmann, Wanita (Tellman) Bubbis and Mary Ellen Tellman.
A Mass will be held Saturday, March 23, 2019 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church with Father Bill Rogalla officiating. Visitation will be held Friday, March 22, 2019 at Twin City Funeral Home from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., with a rosary reading at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue Saturday, March 23, 2019 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church Hall from noon until the time of Mass.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers well-wishers please consider masking donations to the Operation BBQ Relief (operationbbqrelief.org/) or to the Central Missouri Honor Flight (centralmissourihonorflight.com/).